5/4/26 - April Comments
We got four comments this past month. Two of them are about my monthly essay ideas, The other two are about other shared articles. I always enjoy your feedback on the newsletter, and your thoughts on the latest disability news and thinking. To send a comment at any time, just email me at: apulrang@icloud.com.
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Now, on to the April comments ...
April 8, 2026 - Monthly Essay: "Brainstorming"
Adrienne Lauby has an idea for a monthly essay:
"I love your comments on the articles you link so I very interested in these longer essays. My top topic:
'Are we facing an existential problem as authoritarianism and fascism rise up in the U.S.?'
"I'm saying this as bluntly and with as much drama as possible. We know what Germany did when they practiced ovens on disabled people. And, the already-passed social service cuts are going to kill some people. I suspect that I, and others, don't want to look at this question because it's too frightening and we don't want it to be true. And, yet.... if any community knows how important survival preparation is, it's our community."
April 8, 2026 - Monthly Essay: "Brainstorming"
Sabrina suggests: "Could we re-examine the definition of slavery? I believe that bad policy has enslaved many disabled Americans. But the "official" definition of slavery is usually about forced LABOR. What about the "null set" ... people forced to NOT work? Economic coercion ( savings cap, earnings cap, marriage penalty) in the absence of the ability to be fully self-supporting? Currently, disability policy acts like someone who kicks your crutches away, then says, 'Well, its not MY fault that you have a bad leg.'"
April 9, 2026 - New Budget Time In The US
About the Trump administration's proposed funding increase for Centers for Independent Living, Kara Ayers warns:
"It's not a true increase to the IL programs but rather an attempt to divide us. It's added under the notation of eliminating UCEDDs and framed as 'shifting' but the numbers don't line up and as you pointed out, CILs are simply not set up to meet the missions of UCEDDs and other programs targeted for elimination. I see and know the immense value of both 'sides' but we have to be very careful not to fall into the trap that's been set for us. Restore full funding has to be the unified message."
April 17, 2026 - Friday Video Share: "How I get my wheelchair in my car!"
Marnie Delaney enjoyed the video about a woman getting out of her car with a wheelchair, adding: "I am curious about the chair she is using. Squishing it into the front seat is not something I've ever even thought about. I definitely relate to the conversation with her second leg by the way. C'monnnnnnn. She's lovely to make the video. The comments indicate it was an education for many folks. With a big dose of disability porn reactions, of course."
Thank you everyone for reading and sharing your thoughts and reactions!
Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. You can help promote Disability Thinking Weekday by forwarding it by email or posting on your social media. You can also comment by sending me an email at: apulrang@icloud.com. Collected comments are shared on the first of each month. A free subscription sends a newsletter to your email each weekday. Benefits of paid subscription include:
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